A General History and Collection of Voyages and Travels — Volume 10 eBook

the strange custom of refusing to accept of any thing,
unless first thrown down on the ground. They
were a comely strong-bodied people, swift of foot,
and of lively dispositions. The Marigold and
Christopher were dispatched in search of a convenient
harbour, and soon returned with news of having found
one, into which all the ships removed. Here the
seals were so numerous, that above 200 were killed
in about an hour. The natives came boldly about
them, while working ashore, having their faces painted,
their only apparel being a covering of skin with the
fur on, wrapped about their waists, and a kind of
wreaths round their heads. Each man had a bow,
about an ell long, and only two arrows. They even
seemed to have some notion of military discipline,
as they ranged their men in an orderly manner; and
they gave sufficient proof of their agility, by stealing
the admiral’s hat from his head, which could
not be recovered.[24] While in this bay, the admiral
took every thing out of the fly-boat that could be
of any use; she was then laid on shore and burnt, and
all her iron work saved for future use.

[Footnote 24: Harris observes, that these were
of the nation named Patagons by Magellan. But
no notice is taken of their stature being above the
ordinary height.—­E.]

Sailing from this place, the fleet came to anchor
in Port St Julian on the 20th June, where they saw
the gibbet still standing, on which Magellan had formerly
executed some of his mutinous company. Here also
Admiral Drake executed one Captain Doughty, the most
suspected action of his life. Mr Doughty had
been guilty of certain actions, tending towards contention
or mutiny, and was found guilty partly on his own confession,
and partly by proof, taken in good order and as near
as might be according to the forms of the law of England.
Having received the communion from Mr Fletcher, chaplain
of the admiral’s ship, in which Captain Drake
participated along with him; and after embracing Drake,
and taking leave of all the company, Mr Doughty prayed
fervently for the welfare of the queen and whole realm,
then quietly laid his head on the block. The
general then made a speech to the whole company assembled,
exhorting them to unity and obedience, sacredly protesting
that he had great private affection for Mr Doughty,
and had been solely actuated in condemning him to
an ignominious death, by his care for the welfare of
the voyage, the satisfaction of her majesty, and the
honour of his country.

Leaving this place on the 17th August, they fell in
with the eastern entrance of the Straits of Magellan
on the 20th of that month. The 21st they entered
the straits, which they found very intricate, with
various crooked turnings; owing to which, having often
to shift their course, the wind was frequently adverse,
making their passage troublesome and dangerous, especially
in sudden blasts of wind; for, although there were
several good harbours, the sea was too deep for anchorage,